Improvement in zinc-furnaces



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Zinc:"-Jfurnaoa.4 No. 220,831. Patented Oct. 2l, 1879.

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Zinc-Furnace.

No. 220,831. Patented Oct. 21, |879.

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ZinoFurnacex, No. 220,831. Patented Oct. 21, 1879.

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' E. C. HEGBLER & F. W. MATTHIESSEN.

Zinc-F uuuuu e.

No. 220,83; Patented Oct. 21, 1879.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWARD C. EEGELER AND FREDERICK W. MATTHIESSEN, OF LA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ZINC-FURNACES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 220,831, dated October 2l, 1879; application filed March 6, 1879.

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD G. HEGELER and FREDERICK W. MATTHIEssnN, of La Salle, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improveinentin Furnaces for Manufacturing Spelter or Metallic Zinc, of which the following specilication is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of furnaces in which the zinc is manufactured in tire-clay retorts, or mutlies of any form. In furnaces of this class, in which the retorts are heated from the outside, it is desirable to give a uniform heat to a'large number of retorts in the most economical Way, and at the same time have these retorts easily accessible to the manual labor of charging and cleaning theln and taking the zinc from the condensers, 8vo.; and the object of this invention is to accomplish these ends better and more fully than the furnaces now known and used.4

The invention consists, first, in a series of retort-chambers, or, preferably, of a flue-like chamber, arranged vertically, up and down, or zigzag, or horizontally, through which the partially-burned gases from a gas-generator or direct thick gratere enter and pass along for the purpose of being burned to heat the retorts, being further burned on their passage along through the series of chambers or long flue-like chamber by air admitted between the chambers or at intervals along the. long fluelike chamber, or both, so that such gases shall be completely burned at or in the last chamber or extreme end of the line-like chamber; and, second, in the use of hot air admitted at intervals into the retort-chamber for the combustion of the gases in the furnace, and admitted into the re under the gas-generator for their production in the, gas generator, which is made practicable for these purposes, especially the former, without destructive effect on the retorts by this invention.

The arrangement of the retorts in a long tlue being made practicable by the gradual oombustion of the gases by installments, it is a separate part of our invention to arrange the long line-like chamber horizontally, thereby making the retorts easily accessible for charging and cleaning from one door, as the comparatively greater velocity of the gases in the direction of the lues axis (caused by its narrow interior profile when compared to its length) will cause them to pass along in the ilue-like chamber, when arranged horizoutall y, nearly as rapidly at its bottom as at its top side. As the heating of the air used for the burning of the gases in the furnace, as well as their production in the gas-generator, can be done by a separate fire, or by the burned gases after passing from the last chamber or extreme end of the long` ueflike chamber, a great saving of fuel can be obtained by utilizing them in the manner herein shown.

rlhe invention also further consists in the use of perforated retorts, instead of ordinary openings in the wall, for the introduction of air into the retortchamber of a zinc-furnace between the retorts charged with ore, thereby avoiding the local` cooling eect in said retortchamber through said air. The use of ordinary Wallbpcnings has heretofore made impracticable the introduction of air into the firegases, especially in the upper part of the Be1- gian zinc-furnace, for the combustion of the gases there.

We are aware that open retorts or canons;7 so called, are used on the dividing-line between the tire-chamber and the retort-chamber of the Belgian zinefurnace to protect the retorts charged with ore from the direct action of the fire, and also that airis admitted through them into the regases before these fire-gases come in contact with the surface ofthe retorts charged with ore.

The improvement obtained by the use of perforated retort-s for the introduction of air into the iiregases in a retort-chamber of a zincfurnace over the introduction of such air through plain holes in the outer Walls consists in a quicker and more perfect mixture of the said air and lire-gases, and consequent combustion, thus preventing a local cooling eii'eet in the retort-chamber, which takes place when the air is introduced by holes in the outer Walls, so much as to make it usually impracticable.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the drawings, is a longitudinal front elevation of our improved furnace, Fig. 7, Sheet 4, heilig a horizontal plane of same on line .r .r, Fig. 1. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is avertical longitudinal section on a plane indi- 2ated byline xr, Fig. 7, Sheet 4. Fig. 3, Sheet c, is a longitudinal rear elevation of the furnace. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is n vertical longitudinal section on a plane indicated by line y y, Fig. 7, Sheet 4. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a vertical cr0sssectiou on a plane indicated by line .r r',

' Fig. 7, Sheet 4, showing an end view of the furnace and gas-generator with the outer wall removed. Fig. (i, Sheet 3, is a vertical crosssection on a plane indicated by line z z, Fig. 7, Sheet 4, showing the opposite end view of the furnace with the outer wall removed and the rear wall of the gas-generator. Fig. 7, Sheet 4, is a horizontal plane on line .r .1', Fig. 1, Sheet 1, showing the air-retorts in perspective and the ore-retorts omitted. Fig. 8, Sheet 4, is a vertical cross-section on line y y, Fig. 1, Sheet 1. Fig. 8, Sheet 4, is a vertical crosssection on line zz, Fig. 4, Sheet 1. Figi), Sheet 5, is avertical longitudinal section on a plane indicated by line .r .r, Fig. 10, Sheet 5, showing the long retort-chamber arranged in zigzag form. Fig. 10, Sheet 5, is a vertical cross-section on the line .1' .r, Fig. 9, Sheet 5. Fig. 11, Sheet 5, is a vertical longitudinal section on line a: a", Fig. 12, Sheet 5. Fig. 12, Sheet 5, is a vertical cross-section on line .r .1', Fig. 13, Sheet 5. Fig. 13, Sheet 5, is a front or side longitudinal view of Fig. 12, Sheet 5, on a plane otline .icw' of said Fig. l2. The figures 11,12, and 13, Sheet 5, show a com mon Bel gian furnace altered to apply our invention. Figs. 14, 15, and 16, Sheet 6, showa common Silesian inutilefurnace altered to apply our invention, Fig. 14 being a topview with thearch removed, to show the retorts or mutlies, Fig.15a horizontal plane on linex, Fig. 16, and Fig. 16 a vertical crossplane on line .r .1, Fig. 14,

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A is a gas-generator. B is a gas-tine, into which suicient air is admitted from air-tine G at valve D to increase, by combustion, the teiliperature ofthe gas nearly to the degree required at the outside of retorts E, being those charged with ore. F is the horizontal tine-like retortchamber, in which the retorts E G G G2 G3 are supported at one end on steps in the back wall and at the other ou shelves in front.

As the partially-burned gases enter chamber F they first pass over and between air-re torts G, having the pert'orations y g, through which perforations a sutticient amount of additional air is admitted to raise, by further combustion, the temperature of the gases to the full degree required on the outside surface of aportion of the nearest retorts, Phelan-ged with ore, to reduce the ore within. The heat ofthe gases being partially absorbed by such retorts through the chemical process ot reduction and evaporation ofzinc taking place inside ot'them,

the temperature of the gases is gradually re- A duced on their forward march between the retorts E, so that, arriving at air-retorts G', an increase of their temperature is desired. This is reached by a small amount of heated air entering through perforations g g in the retorts G. The gases pass along between a farther portion of retorts E, charged with ore, gradually decreasing in temperature, as before described, meeting in G2 an additional amount of hot air entering through the perforations g g in air-retorts G2, causing the further combustion ot' the gases and again increasing their temperature, which is again reduced by their passing through another set of retorts charged with ore, and again increased by another admission of hot air from anotherset of air-retorts, G3, and'so on, repeating the operation as long as the progressing fire-gases contain any com bustible gases.

I1 is a Hue, through which the worn-out tiregases are conducted from the extreme end of the flue-like retort-chamber F to chamber I of the air heating apparatus, passing in said chamber I, over the outside surfaces of tire-clay pipes J and iron pipes K, contained within said chamber I, and thence into and through iiue L, into chimney M, from which they are Iinall y discharged.

The gas-generator A, gas-ilueB, retort-cham berF, Hue H, chamber Lfiue L, and chimney M are connected, respectively, with each other in the order here stated, so as to form a continuous open way for the tire-gases to pass from the gas-generator A to and through the furnace, and thence to and through the air-heating apparatus and to the chimney, to be discharged, as stated. (See Figs. 5, 6, 7.) The forward course of the fire-gases is indicated in the drawings by the serpentine arrows.

N, Figs. 3, 6, 7, is a pipe .with valve 0. through which cold air or blast (from a fan) enters the iron pipes K, and passes upward through a part, and downward through another part, as shown in the drawings by the straight or curved arrows, being heated there in to a considerable degree, and passing on into tire-clay pipes J, and through them, as shown by such arrows, where it is heated thoroughly to a high degree of heat.

The pipes K and jare open at each end, and extend through the walls or lioors which support them at their ends, into the open space above and below, which open space is partitioned o into compartments N N2 N3 N i N5 NG N7, as shown in Fig. 4, Sheet 2', in such lnanner as to cause the air to be blown or drawn through the pipes from the trst compartment, N', into which the cold air from pipeN is emptied, up through two ot' the said pipes K, into compartment N2 above, and down through the other two pipes K into compartment N3 below, and so on through pi pes j, until it reaches compartment. N 7, as shown. Fille P is connected with this last compartment N", and conveys the hot air therefrom to the tine Q, which extends along the entire length of the furnace and is located below the front ends of the airretorts G G G2 G3. (See Figs. 2, 6, 8.) Out of flue Q a portion of the hot 'air is carried by the branch flues R S '1 U, extending from Q up in front of or near the said air-retorts, respectively. These branch iiues have smaller tlues r s t u, connecting with each of the said airretorts, and at the junction of the branch dues R S TU with flue Qare valves R S T U', by which the amount of hot air admitted into the branch flues may be regulated, and the smaller lines r s t u, connectin g .the said air -retorts, also have valves r s t a', by which the amount of hot air admitted into each of the said airretorts is regulated, so that the hot air may be entirely shut off from some of said air-retorts and left onto others wholly or only partially, as the operator may desire; and the hot air thus admitted into the airretorts passes out through the holes g g into the furnace for the burning of the nre-gases, as before described. (See Figs. 1, 8, Se.) The flue Q is also connected with the gas-flue B by a short iiue, G, which has a valve D, (see Figs. 2 and 7,) by which a regulated amount of the hot air from Q may be introduced into said gas-flue B, as and for the purpose before described.

Connected with the fine P, at or near its junction with the compartment N7, is a tine, V, with a valve, fr, (seeFigs. 3 and 6,) by which Hue and its valve a regulated amount of hot air is carried into the chamber W, Fig. 5, un der the gas-generatorA, to be admitted into the iire in the gas-generator and used instead of cold air in generating the gases. The air-pipes a N Kj, compartments N' to N7, and pipes P Q R S T U V are so connected with each other, respectively, as to form an open way from the mouth of N, where cold air is admitted to and through the various valves described, when open, into the furnace and the re in the gasgenerator in regulated quantities in the manner described, there being-sufficient air-pressure, caused by the dra-ft of the furnace, or by a blast-fan, to make the hot air flow into the furnace at any point, or into the fire in the gas generator, when the proper valves are open.

The particular devices described for conducting the hot air, or cold air instead, to and regulating its introduction into the airretorts G G G2 G3 may, as a matter of course, be varied and otherwise adapted to accomplish the ends sought; and so far as relates to theuse of the series of chambers or long iiuelike chamber, considered without reference to whether hot or cold air is to be used, the whole hot-air apparatus may be dispensed with, as well as blast substituted by the draft of a chimney, and cold airintroduced through ordinary apertures in the wall or inthe projecting ends of the perforated air-retorts, which in the latter case need not lie in the regular rows necessitated by the blast or not-air pipes.

As before stated, Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet 5, show the cross-sections of a furnace built with application of our invention in zigzag shape.

The tire-gases from a grate-fire, or the partiallyburned gases from a generator, enter the zigzag-shaped retort-chamber F at B, receiving` through the perforations g g it *t of air-retort G a small amount of additional air, then after passing along downward through the retorts contained in tbc iirst compartment of chamber F, receive through air-retorts G another installment of air, then passing upward to the second compartment, receive through air-retort G2 another installment of air, then passing downward again through the vthird compartment, through G3, another installment of air, and so on until they pass at lout of the zigzag retort-chamber F, and pass to the chimney oran air-heatin g apparatus,as before described.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13, Sheet 5, show a pair of common Belgian furnaces altered to apply our invention, being thereby heated by one iire instead of two. Thefire-gases from the grate A, or, instead, a gas'iiue connected with a generator, enter the one furnace-chamber F from the bottom, meet in it additional air passing iu through the perforations in the air-retorts g, pass farther upward, and again receive air through air-retorts g', pass farther upward and under the arch spanned anew over both furnaces, meeting additional air introduced through openings g2 in the top of the arch, then passing downward through the other furnace-chamber, F2, meeting through air-retorts g3 another installment of air, then passing fai'- ther downward to the escapement-iiue, and farther to the chimney or air-heating apparatus. With Q are marked the lues leading the cold-or hot air to the air-retorts.

Figs. 14, l5, and 16, Sheet 6, show a double Silesian muftle-furnace altered,`so as to apply our invention, the use of heated air being-assumed for the combustion of the gases. The gases from a generator come through iiue B to the muflle-chamber F', meeting before entering it, at G', the heated air coming through flue Q from an air-heating apparatus in such quantity as only partially to burn them, but v so much as to produce in chamber F the re quired heat, then pass through iiues h h h' it t, and H H to the other muffle-chamber, F2, meeting, previous to their entrance, in C2, an additional amount of air, so as to burn them completely; then passing out through fines h2 h2, t it, and H2 H2 to an air-heating apparatus. In the same manner a third niufiie-chamber could be heated, depending on the perfection of the air-heating apparatus.

We do not claim, generally, the combination of several retort-chambers in one zinc-furnace; nor, generally, the construction of the retort chamber of azincfurnace in the form of a( more or less) long flue 5 nor, generally, the construetion of air-inlets into the retortchamber of a zinc-furnace; nor, generally, the connection ot' an airheating appara-tus with a zinc-furnace to heat the air used in the generation and combustion of the gases heating the same nor the admission of air through the open retorts or tion with inlets at intervals throughout its length for the admission of air, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a zinc-furnace, aiiue-like retort-chamber, through which the fire-gases pass in the direction of its greatest extension, the greatest extension of said flue-like retort-chamber being in a horizontal line, in combination with inlets at intervals of its length for the admission of air, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. In a zinc-furnace, a retort chamber or chambers having intermediate air-inlets of the character specified, in combination with an airheating apparatus, substantially as set forth.

5. In a zinc-furnace, a retort-chamber havin g retorts, in combination with interposed perforated retorts, serving as inlets for air into the lire-gases after said fire-gases have passed over the surface of a portion of the ore-retorts, substantially as spccilied.

EDWARD C. HEGELER.

FREDERICK W. MATTHIESSEN. Witnesses:

G. WEERTS,

H. ENGELMAN. 

